2.5. fe
Cedric CHIVERS'
PATENT
Library Indicator,
A
BOOK-ISSUE RECORDER AND CHARGING SYSTEM,
Has the following advantages over the Indicator hitherto chiefly used : —
It Occupies One Third Less Counter Space !
Is One Foot Less in Height !
The Figures are More Clearly Seen !
It Does More Work!
Initial Cost Less ! Cost of Maintenance much Less !
Simpler and Quicker in Operation !
Exhibits Overdues Automatically !
Is a handsome piece of Library Furniture, and
lends itself readily to Architectural treatment.
Library Bureau, Cedric Chivers, Manager, 10, Bloomsbury Street, London, W.C.
Chivers Patent Library Indicator.
DESCRIPTION.
The Indicator may be framed in mahogany, oak, walnut, or iron, in groups of any multiple of 250. The number of every book in the library is displayed upon it in plain gilt figures, arranged according to classes or in one numerical sequence. The gold, which is burnt in, will stand, as in the old Grolier Bindings, for 500 years.
A division of 1,000 numbers is made up of four movable blocks, kept in place by a screw. Thus the blocks may be moved to different locations in other frames when desired.
The numbers on the reverse side of the Indicator correspond with the front, but instead of gilt figures on a black ground, they are black figures on a white ground, and displayed so as to facilitate discovery.
Each Indicator may be numbered to suh the convenience or requirements of the librarian, but the method shown in our illustration is strongly recommended as being the simplest, quickest, and easiest understood.
Each number has under it a longitudinal slot in which is placed a card or celluloid tab. This bears the book number and class, and represents the volume whose number it carries.
When, this tab is in the slot it has the effect of underlining unmistakably the number of the book represented, and thus shows it IN to the readers.
The size of the Indicator without frame, is as follows per 1,000 numbers : — Height, 3 feet ; width, 9I inches. The frame can be made to any design, and the Indicators grouped as may be desired.
It lends itself in a way no other Indicator does to Architectural treatment.
CHARGING SYSTEM.
The appliances necessary for the charging system, consist of trays, fitted with sliding catch, and metal date tongues.
Method of Issue. — The reader consults the Indicator and discovers a book to be in, mentions the number of such book to the assistant, who immediately withdrawing tab from the Indicator, places it into the pocket of reader's ticket, obtains book from the shelf, and stamps date on the label therein, and then places conjoined ticket and tab in charging tray.
Charging. — At intervals during the day, when there are few calls to the desk, the assistant can arrange the tickets in charging tray and record the particulars on an issue sheet for statistical purposes. The tickets may be arranged by book numbers in one numerical sequence, or by classes, and in numerical order. The date tongue is placed in front of each day's issues.
On return of the book the date of issue is ascertained from the label therein, and reference is made to the tray containing that day's issues. The discovery of the particular tab is instantaneous. The book is shelved, tab restored to Indicator, ticket to borrower, and restitution is complete.
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DESIDERATA FOR AN INDICATOR.
Long disputative circulars by rival inventors tend to confusion. Each inventor may, without direct misrepresentation, make much of minor advantages and ignore important defects in his own system, and will be tempted to adopt the contrary course of ignoring the good points and magnifying trifling and unimportant features tending to discredit his rival's method.
Before purchasing an Indicator, will it not be wise to obtain samples of each rival contrivance offered you, test and experiment for yourself ?
It appears fair to assume that the desiderata for an Indicator are the following:
I. — To indicate clearly to the reader whether a book is IN or OUT.
2. — To show instantly when a book goes out, and when it is returned.
In the Chivers' Indicator these points are met as under :
i — Each number has under it a longitudi- nal slot in which a card of the best white cardboard or celluloid is placed.
When this tab is in the slot it has the effect of underlining un- mistakably the number of the book represented, and thus shows it IN to the reader.
Figures are of this size 2489 in burnished gold on a black ground. ( See Model.)
2. — Immediately a book is asked for, the tab is withdrawn from Indicator, and shows book OUT. Upon its return, tab is at once replaced in Indicator, and shows it IN.
C> Cg.
3- — To direct an assistant to the location of a book when necessary.
4. — To enable the librarian to issue books in the shortest possible time with safety.
5. — To accept and acknowledge return of book.
6. — To show without additional labour,
and if possible, automatically with these operations, whether a re- turned book is overdue and by how long time.
7. — To reduce the possibility of error to
a minimum.
8. — To be self-checking.
9. — To allow statistics of all kinds to be compiled readily without risk of confusion or misplacement of the records pari passu with the work of the day.
10. — That it should readily admit of expansion in all classes of repre- sented literature.
3. — The tab may bear the press and
shelf number of each book.
4. Absolutely no writing is needed at
the moment of service. The tab is withdrawn from Indicator, in- serted in reader's pocket ticket, book obtained from shelf, and stamped with date. Thus four exceedingly simple operations enable a librarian to issue a book with safety.
5. — The date directs to tray, where con-
joined reader's ticket and book tab is found. The return of ticket frees the reader of liability, and the return of tab to Indicator shows book available for issue.
6. — This is shown automatically. If
books are loaned for 14 days, all the tickets in the 15th tray are overdue.
7. — The operations being mostly me-
chanical, the chance of error is out of the limit of accident.
8. — No mistake can occur with the
Chivers' Indicator, but may be rectified in a few seconds. In other Indicators search for a missing ticket covers the whole of the numbers, but with the Chivers search is confined to one day's issues.
9. — The tab cannot accidently be dis-
connected with the ticket, so that no misplacement occurs, and all arrangement and statistical work can be done during the slack hours of the day.
Tabs of varied coloured ends are supplied to show the different classes and facilitate this work..
10. — The blocks are in numbers of 250, and the whole can be removed from one place to another in 60 seconds.
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Figures Underlined
In the Indicator the figures are of burnished gold, brighter and more distinct than by the above process it is possible to portray them.
PATENT
1
The above diagram repre- sents the full width of block and size of numbers.
II.— That the machinery for performing u. — This Indicator is by far the smallest this work should occupy as little in the market. By the side of
space as possible. the Indicator hitherto chiefly used,
the proportions are here shown.
12.— That such contrivance should be of good appearance.
12. — -The frames may be made of the wood used in the general wood- work of each Library, whilst the Indicator blocks, themselves of jet black wood, burnished gold letters and white underlined tabs, are of artistic appearance.
This Indicator never tarnishes, discolours or wears out.
13. — That it should be cheap and cost 13. — The tabs cost only a few pence per little for maintenance. thousand, and no other expense is
required. The reader's tickets will require renewing, but at 12s. per 1,000 in manilla and 40s. per 1,000 in cloth, this is a small item which is usually a source of profit to the Library charging id. each to the reader.
Its cost of maintenance is far less than with any other Indicator.
I CLAIM ABSOLUTE ORIGINALITY FOR MY INDICATOR, FOR ITS PLAN, ITS METHOD OF FIGURING, ITS MATERIAL, AND ITS CAPACITY FOR INTIMATE ALLIANCE WITH A CARD- CHARGING SYSTEM.
EXPLANATION AND KEY TO DIAGRAMS.
Fig. i. — Shows the Chivers' Patent Library Indicator for 1,000 books. The reverse side is also numbered.
Each Indicator may be numbered in any way to suit the convenience of the librarian, therefore the method of numbering shown on diagram may be disregarded.
The Indicator is made up of movable blocks, each containing 250 numbers. The blocks are kept in place by a screw, and may be moved to different locations in other frames as may be desired.
Class letters are supplied detached, and may be altered and affixed as desired. This method is better than repeating the class letter with each number which tends to obscurity.
The space at the bottom is intended for catalogues or finding lists.
Fig. 2. — Shows design of tab, used for underlining the figures in the Indicator. They are supplied in the best white board, or white celluloid, and may be numbered as required. When inserted in the slot they underline the figure and show the book to be IN.
Figs. 3 and 4. — Show one form of Reader's ticket, supplied in tough Manilla, printed and divided into two pockets to enable the librarian to place the tabs in the tickets in alternate odd and even numbers to facilitate discovery in the charging tray. The tabs are tightly held in this way. Various qualities of tickets are also supplied in cloth.
Fig. 5. — Shows the charging tray 18 inches long, slotted at bottom to enable the inser- tion of date tongue, fig. 6. It is fitted with a movable clip, fig. 7, which prevents the tickets falling. The clip, fig. 9, holds several trays together. There is also a sliding rest with screw which holds the tickets and cards firmly in the tray when not in use.
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The advent of this Indicator has been met with the publication of a long list of Libraries in which other contrivances are established, and directing attention to the fact that favour has been over- whelmingly bestowed upon an Indicator other than the Chivers'.
This is to be explained by the statement, a little conclusive, that the Chivers' Indicator was 'not' in existence.
It is admitted the Chivers' Library Indicator is not so widely known or placed as others, but the days are early yet.
Before wheels were invented a contrivance like this was the only method of carrying heavy loads.
One can imagine the long list of customers a manufacturer of skids would publish to show that the new fangled wheel had little chance of adoption.
The Chivers' Indicator has been ordered by the following Public Libraries : — Leigh, Carlisle, Lancaster, Workington, Dewsbury, St. Helens, Wigan, and it is respectfully represented that in each case the other Indicators were quite well understood and the Chivers' was preferred.